Multiposter



Aug. 16, 1960 1 c. GRovER ET AL 2,948,974

MULTIPOSTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1959 El? OME Aug. 16, 1960 L.. c. GRovER ETAL MULTIPOSTER Filed May 8, 1959 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 MIQNK INVENTOR CHACE GROVE/P BJOHN H. SCHMORDE ATTORNEYS MULTIPOSTER Lafayette Chace Grover, San lliraneisco, and John H. Schmorde, Belmont, Calif., assignors to Multiposter, Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed May s, 1959, ser. No. 811,848

s claims. (c1. io- 36) This invention relates in general to a display device and particularly relates to certain improvements in a device similar to that shown in the Blum patent, 2,589,474.

vSuch display devices include a vplurality of advertising or display sheets which are stacked one above `the other and means for withdrawing the top sheet from the pile every few seconds and thereafter inserting the sheet at the base of the pile so that eventually the same sheet may be exposed again in turn. A device of this type must be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and yet rugged, simple and positive in operation.

ln such devices, some means must be provided for holding the display sheets in a steady position during the display period, for releasing the top (display) sheet at the Vproper time when it is to be picked up by an advancing conveyor, and for readjusting the positions of each of the other Vsheets in a proper manner as the display sheet is moved to the bottom of the stack and the next sheet beneath the top is exposed and advanced into the display position.

lIt is the object of the present .invention to provide a mechanism for accomplishing these movements in a simple and positive manner.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a mechanism for rearranging the position of various display sheets in a stack, which mechanism is of such construc tion and operation that the top sheets in the stack are 1 successively removed and replaced with other sheets to be displayed.

ln the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of the device of this invention, the rear cover being removed to show the interior;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on lines 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on lines k3--3 of Figure 1 with certain of the parts broken away;

Figure 4 -is a sectional view through line 4--4 of Figure l with certain of the parts broken away;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of one of the carrier bars.

Generally, the device of this vinvention operates toimove about a closed track an elongated bar from which depends a sheet of plastic, paper or fabric containing a display or message in such a manner that the sheet, as the topmost of a stack of similar sheets, is left on view for a predetermined period of time and is thereafter removed from the top of the pile so as to allow the next sheet in succession to come Vinto view. This is accomplished with a minimum of moving parts. Endless chains carried by spree tet-wheels at either side of the device each carry two cams and one dog. The lcarrier bar secured to the topmost sheet of the stack is held in place Aby the cot action of the detents ofy spring-loaded, pivotly-mounted elements which normally `grip a single channel on either side whereby to prevent movement thereof. The first of the said cams carried by the endless -ehain acts to 'remove the path-obstructing detents from `in front ofthe 'first carrier bar, whereby to free it for advancement. While States Patent Office proper relationship within the device.

Patented Aug. 1s, 1960 the path is so cleared, the dogs carried by the endless lchains contact the carrier bar and advance it for a distance sufcient that the sheet depending from the carrier is entirely removed from View. As the carrier is moving to its new location, and after it has passed the point normally occupied by the said detents, these detents are again, through the action of the iirst set of cams, allowed to fall back into place so to again obstruct the path. 10

fis repeated.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like characters refer to like parts throughout, there is shown a suitable frame structure 10 having bolted thereto cast iron plates 12, each having a pair of raised flanges 1'4 and 16.

-Flange 14 is at all points equidistant from flange 16 and together these form a track 18 having arcuate ends and two'parallel legs. One of these plates 12 is mounted at either end of the structure, so that the tracks are in a face-.to-face relationship. Preferably, the plates are open Vin the interior-most portions, as defined by the inner edge of flange 16, whereby to provide space for various elements.

As seen in Figure 2, the structure has an exhibit area vgenerally indicated at 20, including a sheet of glass 22.

Mounted for movement in the tracks are a plurality of carrier bars 24 which, in Figure 2, are shown in their The channels or carrier bars are stacked one on top of the other in the Varea immediately beneath the viewing surface, but ordinarily do not occupy the portion of the circuit which is directly at the rear of lthe device (Figure 1), excepting when an individual carrier is in transit from the bottom to the top of the machine, as shown in Figure 2. Each carrier bar 24 has attached to it and pulls after it a display sheet 26. For convenience of illustration, only a single sheet has been shown, i.e., the sheet which is topmost on the pile .and thus on view in the display area. However, each of the carriers pulls after it a single display sheet and the entire group of sheets forms a stack in such .a manner that when the sheet illustrated is re? Vmoved by advancing its carrier bar 24a upward-ly, the sheet supported by carrier bar 24b will become exposed.

iournalled at either end in the frame 10I are shafts 28 and 3i?. `Pulley 32 is keyed to shaft 28, which extends through the frame at one side and, by means of a drive belt 3-4 and pulley 3'6, power istransmitted to the upper shaft 2S from prime mover 33. Shaft 28 has sprocketwheels 40 keyed thereto and shaft 30 has sprocket-wheels 42 keyed thereto. Endless link chains 44 are reeved about the lsprocket-Wheels.

As indicated, the individual carrier bars 2'4 are mounted in parallel side-to-side relationship along the front of Vthe device, each carrier bar consisting of a generally U- shaped element having aback 50 and outwardly extending anges 52 and 54. The flange 5'4 of bar 24 has a pair ofnotehes cut one at either end thereof, for reasons which will be described below. Either end of the ilanges 52 and 54 are folded inwardly and flattened so as to -provide a flattened portion 56 and 58 of suitable thickness to ride loosely in the tracks 13. These notches Vmust be of suflicient width and depth to allow passage therethrough of the dogs to be detailed below. Otherwise, their size and shape is not critical.

links apar-t. distant from the dog 60. While the preferred relation- 'ange 84 whereby to force said pivotal movement.

at corresponding points on the chains. Also secured to each chain is a first cam 62 and a second cam 64. These are seen best in Figure l, wherein they are shown four The first cam 62 is shown seven links ship of the cams and dog is approximately that shown here, it is possible to vary these somewhat, depending upon the permissible proximity of one mechanical motion to the next, as will be hereinafter described.

Attention is directed especially to Figure 2. 'Plate 70 is pivoted on pin 72, said pin being supported by plate 74 which is parallel to said plate 70. The plate 74 is in turn supported by plate 76 rand is welded or bolted thereto. Plate 76 in turn is bolted or welded to the frame 10. Also secured (screws .are shown) to plate 76 is a bracket 78, which bracket in turn provides support for a spring steel element 80. As shown especially in Figure 3, resilient element 80 bears against one edge of plate 70, so as to force the detent 82 of plate 70 to the right, as viewed in Figures 2-4. In Figure 1, resilient element 80 bears against the upper end of the plate 70 which is nearest the viewer, thereby to force the detent 82 (seen lowermost) toward the viewer. Plate 70 has a flange 84 secured theretol which extends upwardly and in the general direction of the front face of the display device. This flange is shown in phantom view in Figures 2 and 3, for here it 'lies behind the ele- -ment 70. Part of it may be seen in the lower corners of Figure l. This ange 84 is so placed that the upper yend thereof will be contacted by cam 62 as said cam `passes downwardly while traversing that part of the circuit which is adjacent the viewing area. In Figure 3, the manner of operation is shown, the plate 70 being shown with the `detent 82 pivoted backwardly in the phantom view; cam 62 is shown in engagement with The resilient spring element 80 is also shown in both positions in Figure 3.

The upper portion of Figure 3 is especially directed to the structure of .the spring-loaded plate 90, pivoted 'at 92, which pivo-t point is supported by plate 12. The spring 94 may be secured at the lowermost end thereof tothe frame 10 or to any other fixed element and nor- -mally urges plate 90` into the position `shown in Figure 3. Thus, pawl 96, which is supported at one end of the plate 90, is urged into the primary position shown in Figure 3. As can be seen from a study of Figure Y3, however, when a carrier bar 24 is urged upwardly through the `action lof chains 44 and moving dogs 60, pawl 96 will be urged backwardly as the carrier con- -tacts it, urging pawl 96 and plate 90 into the secondary position shown as a phantom view in Figure 3. After the carrier has been forced upwardly beyond the horizontal surface of the pawl 96, the entire plate 90` will be Vallowed to snap back linto place, so as to retain the carrier (24C) in the position shown in Figure 3.

Attenti-o-n is now directed to Figure 4, wherein still a third plate 100 pivots about pin 102, which is in turn supported by the frame 10. Spring 104 is secured at one end to the plate 100 and at the other end at a suitable point on the frame. The spring urges plate 100 into the primary position shown in Figure 4 with detent -106 in a position `such as to obstruct the passage of channels as they travel in their circuit. Plate 100 has a narrow upper portion 108. Secured to the frame 10 is a pin 110 having a cam follower 112 pivoted thereon. The cam follower is so placed, as seen in Figure 4,

.that vcam 62 must necessarily contact it as the endless link chain moves it over that part of the circuit adjacent the viewing area. When the cam follower is struck by the .cam 62, portion 108 of plate 100 is pivoted in a ,clock-Wise direction, as -viewed in Figure 4, with the 4 result that detent 106 is withdrawn from the path of movement of the carrier 24a (Figure 2).

In operation, the path of travel of the display sheet is downwardly past window 22, beneath retracted detent 82 and upwardly over the rearward leg of the elongated track. Advancement is by uniform, predetermined, step-wise movements except over that portion of the circuit which is at the rear of `the machine. Here, the individual carriers 24 travel from the base of the structure to a point above pawl 96 without any interruption.

Because the rear portion of the device is open except during that portion ofthe cycle when the top-most sheet, lately on display, is pulled from the top of the pile by moving channel 24a upwardly, thus pulling its display sheet behind it, it is possible to secure access to the moving parts of the machine without necessity for removal of the carrier bars. In addition, it is possible to remove individual carrier bars from the tracks wherein they ride by turning the carrier bars diagonally across the open back portion so as to release the ends of the carrier bars.

The cycle begins with the carrier bar in the position of 24a shown in Figure 2. It is held in place by detent 82 `and detent 106. Actually, in the preferred embodiment, detent 82 is fashioned and positioned to rest between the ilanges 52 land 54 of carrier bar 24]), and in turn, the upper flange 52 of carrier bar 24b supports 24a from beneath. Detent 106 prevents any possible upward movement on the part of carrier 24a. The sequence of operations is thereafter as follows: cam 64 moves downwardly toward cam follower 112 and begins to force the cam follower in a counter-clockwise direction with the result that the upright upper arm 108 of plate 100 is moved clockwise. The plate 100 pivots on pin 102 and detent 106 is pulled backwardly so that it attains the position shown in the phantom view of Figure 4. At this point, channel 24a has been released for upward movement. Thereafter, dogs 60 pass upwardly through the notches at either end of carrier bar 24a-the carrier bar being so oriented that the carrier bar-ange 54 (having the notches) is lowermost. The dogs lcontact the inside of flange 52 of the carrier bar 24a and urge it upwardly. Note bar 24 in Figure 2. Thereafter, cam 62 strikes cam follower 84 and, as shown in Figure 3, urges the flange in a clockwise direction, thus acting to pivot the entire plate 70 in a clockwise direction land thus retracting detent 82 so as to release carrier` bar 24b. Preceding completion of the retraction of detent 82, however, the cam 64 advances beyond cam follower 112, thus allowing plate 100 to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction and the detent 106 to `assume again its normal position. Following this movement, withdrawal of the detent 82 allows channel 24h to move upwardly into the position formerly occupied by channel 24a, this upward movement being due to the inuence of gravity on the stacked channels at the front of the device. By the time dog 60 has moved about one-quarter of the way to the .top of the circuit, cam 62 has passed `and released cam follower 84, allowing plate 70 (carrying its detent 82) to pivo-t in a counter-clockwise direction so as to lock the replacement carrier bar 2417 `in place. Hence, the new carrier, pulling after it its sheet of material, is secured in place prior to the time that the top-most sheet 26 yis removed fully from View. As dogs 60` travel upwardly bearing a carrier, the carrier will strike pawls 96, forcing them in a clockwise direction against the urging of the springs 94; the pawls will snap back into place to lock the carrier when it reaches the position of channel 24C shown in Figure 3. Each time that a new carrier (and sheet) are inserted at the bottom of the stack, the position shown in 24C, an additional carrier bar is forced over the uppermost arcuate portion of the track, whereby to begin downward movement across the face of the device.

Any suitable means may be used for securing the sheet 26 to its carrier 24. A particularly suitable structure is that `shown in the Roberts patent, 2,099,142-see Figures through 8 thereof.

Advantages of the structure disclosed and claimed herein are its overall simplicity and positive manner of operation. Once an individual sheet is uncovered so that it is seen through the glass at the front of the structure, it is not thereafter necessary to move it until such time as it is desired entirely to remove it so as to expose the next sheet. The fact that the channels move downwardly across the viewing surface instead of upwardly, as is conventional practice in structures of this sort (see, for example, Patent 2,228,137) and because of the fact that each sheet and accompanying carrier bar, when moved, are inserted beneath the stack, at no time is the carrier bar exposed to public view. These carriers are always hidden beneath a plurality of individual sheets. Further, because of the operation of this structure wherein the carrier bars move downwardly beneath the viewing surface and because of the manner in which the individual carrier bars `are stacked one above the other, the thickness of the stack of superimposed sheets -is greatest in that portion of the device which is at the top of the structure and in the general vicinity of the viewing surface. Hence, the distance from the inner surface of the glass 26 to individual carriers directly there-behind is approximately the thickness of the stack of sheets at this point. This results in sheet 26 being firmly held at the top thereof since it is squeezed between that portion of the structure adjacent the upper edge of glass 22 and the carrier bars directly there-beneath. This eliminates the necessity for any complex arrangement to hold the trailing end of the sheet securely in place, whereby to stretch the sheet across the viewing surf-ace in the most presentable fashion. The system of levers used to release and secure the individual carrier bars, all of such levers being controlled by simple dowel-shaped cams secured to the endless chains, represents a substantial improvement over t-he more complex cam systems which have been used heretofore. Simplicity of structure connotes dependability of operation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and only `such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In a frame-mounted display device containing a show window and having a plurality of compacted, overlaying displays rnoveably restrained in and partially filling a first closed circuit therefor, said device having a motor-driven means to move said displays one at a time along an empty portion of said circuit, said empty portion being at the back of said device, each of said displays being mounted on a carrier therefor, said device having -a pair of endless, flexible chains moveable over like paths extending across the empty portion of said circuit and across that portion of said circuit adjacent the display window, each of said chains being stretched between and mounted about sprocket-wheels keyed to shafts therefor, said shafts being mounted parallel to the display portion of said circuit said sprocket-wheels being mounted in planes perpendicular to the said display window whereby each of said chains describes a second circuit within the said first circuit of a shape similar to said first circuit but of lesser dimensions, the improvements comprising: a first means for securing in place lat the base of said first circuit and thereafter releasing at a predetermined time an individual carrier, the first means comprising a first and a second pair of pivoted levers having detents at one end thereof, said levers being pivoted to the frame of said device, the said detents of each pair of levers cooperating with one another whereby to block the path of a carrier bar through the said first circuit in either direction when the said carrier bar is at a point adjacent the upward portion of the circuit over the rear of the device, a `second means for advancing said carrier when said rst means releases said carrier, said second means comprising dogs secured at corresponding points on each of said endless chains, said dogs being adapted to engage said carrier when said dogs are brought into close proximity therewith by `the motion of said chains; third means mounted adjacent the top of said device for supporting a carrier bar carried by said dogs `against the effects of gravity; and a founth means carried by said chains for actuating said first means whereby to release said carrier at a point immediately preceding contact of said dogs with said carriers.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the fourth means comprises a pair of cams mounted one labove the other on each of said endless chains, said cams operating to urge said levers sequentially whereby to release said carrier bar for upward movement.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the iirst pair of levers is mounted adjacent said chains 'and adjacent the downward portion of said circuit, said levers each having a cam follower operatively associated therewith normally lying in the path of one of said cams carried by one of said chains, whereby -said cam will Contact said cam follower as said cams move downwardly adjacent said followers, whereby to urge said followers and said levers associated therewith and wherein said second pair of levers is also mounted adjacent said chains and adjacent the downward portion of said circuit, whereby the second pair of cams carried by said chains passes adjacent thereto, said second pair of camshaving cam followers in association therewith, said cam followers normally lying in the path of movement of said second pair of cams whereby said cams contact said second pair of cam followers as said chains and cams move downwardly, whereby to urge said cam followers and said levers in association therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 2,099,142 Roberts Nov. 16, 1937 2,129,023 Roberts Sept, 6, 1938 2,228,137 Hutchinson -..i Ian. 7, 1941 2,589,474 Blum Mar. 18, 1952 2,876,568 Schmorde Mar. 10. 1959 

